Before You Were Born, After You Pass
Do you know how relevant the word Rabb is — not only to your life, but also your afterlife? In fact, even before you were born!
1. When you leave this world and are placed in your grave, what’s the first thing that will happen?
Two angels will appear and ask you 3 questions…
What’s the very FIRST question?
"Who is your Rabb?"
Then... "What is your way of life (deen)"? and "Who is your prophet (nabi)?"
2. Before you entered this world and you were gathered with all the souls in one place altogether...
...what was the very FIRST thing that Allah asked you - and each of us?
“Am I not your Rabb?”
We all responded:
“Yes, You are! We testify.”
[Chapter 7, The Heights, Verse 172]
Even though we don’t remember that moment (we only know through God reminding us in His final revelation)…
...that testimony is etched onto each of our hearts. The heart of the human knows subconsciously that there is a Creator/Lord.
So Rabb is the FIRST question you’ll be asked after you leave this world... and it’s the FIRST question you were ever asked - before you entered this world.
That's why I call this prayer tip: Rabb: The First & The Last.
3. How God Introduced Himself to Muhammad and Moses - peace be upon them - and by extension, every one of us.
In the FIRST revelation, what did He say to the Prophet ๏ทบ?
“Read, in the Name of your Rabb - Who created.
He created the human from a clinging clot.
Read; your Rabb is the Most Generous/Noble.
The One who taught by the pen.
He taught the human what it didn’t know."
[Chapter 96, The Clot, Verses 1-5]
We find the same when Moses came to the mountain and conversed with Allah for the FIRST time. Allah said:
“Oh Moses, indeed I am your Rabb.
So take off your sandals.”
[Chapter 20, Taha, Verses 11-12]
A question arises here: Why would God command Moses, on this very first occasion of conversation, and in the very first sentence… to take off his sandals of all things?
This goes back to a previous email - when we discussed how Allah being Rabb (Caring Master) means that each of us is His Abd (servant).
The servant is meant to willingly submit to the Master… because he knows that the Master is Caring, Loving, and Nurturing.
So one interpretation is that Allah is establishing this Rabb–Abd relationship from the get go.
Just as He commanded the Prophet, peace be upon him: "Read!"
Similarly, God commands Moses straight away to submit to His command: "Take off your sandals."
I find it remarkable that even before God mentions His Name (Allah), He FIRST tells each of them that He is their Rabb...
...not just THE Rabb, but He says to each: YOUR Rabb.
It's so personal and loving.
Other Firsts and Lasts of Rabb
4. The Quran begins and ends with Rabb
In the FIRST verse of The Opening (surah al-Fatihah), Allah refers to Himself as: Rabb of all that exists.
In the LAST two chapters of the Quran, Allah says:
“Say: I take refuge with the Rabb of the break of dawn.”
[Chapter 113, The Break of Dawn, Verse 1]
“Say: I take refuge with the Rabb of people.”
[Chapter 114, The People, Verse 1]
5. Second only to One
Other than articles, pronouns and prepositions...
After "Allah," the word that MOST frequently occurs in the Quran is Rabb - nearly 1,000 times!
It’s second only to the name Allah.
6. The FIRST dua ever made
When Adam and Hawa, peace be upon them, made the mistake of eating from the tree in Paradise, what were they taught to say?
“Our Rabb! We have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will certainly be losers.”
[Chapter 7, The Heights, Verse 23]
It's the first dua ever made, and it begins with: "Our Rabb."
7. The GREATEST name/title
In a few narrations, the Prophet (peace be upon him) made reference to: The Greatest Name/Title (al-ism al-a’dham) of God.
Scholars have discussed many opinions about which name or title of Allah is the Greatest - the one to which the Prophet was referring.
There are around 15 different opinions! One of them is: Rabb.
Rabb is possibly the Greatest Name/Title of God.
8. Rabb: The FIRST in many of your duas
The vast majority of duas in the Quran begin with Rabb: Rabbi (my Rabb) or Rabbana (our Rabb)...
...showing its significance and centrality in our relationship, connection, and conversations with Allah.
9. The FIRST command in the Quran
Above, we discussed the first command of Allah ("Read, in the Name of your Rabb") in the order of revelation of the Quran.
But also in the order of compilation of the Quran, the FIRST command to humanity includes Rabb:
“Oh People, worship/serve your Rabb - Who created you and those before you - so that you may be mindful of Him.
[Chapter 2, The Cow, Verse 21]
10. The LAST prayer
When we return home to Paradise, God willing, Allah tells us that our FINAL prayer will be: Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alamin...
Surely those who believe and do good, their Caring Master (Rabb) will guide them หนto Paradiseหบ through their faith, rivers will flow at their feet in the Gardens of Bliss,
in which their prayer will be, “How Perfect You are, God!” and their greeting will be, “Peace!” and their closing prayer will be:
“All praise is for God, Caring Master (Rabb) of all that exists!”
[Chapter 10, Jonah, Verses 9-10]
How this applies to your salah
I believe that the deeper your understanding of each word and phrase in salah, the deeper your connection can be.
The deeper you go, the more your eyes and your heart open to the reality of the One before Whom you are standing, and to the reality of the life you are living.
And whenever you say a word/phrase in prayer, what you are able to recollect in that very moment is immensely important.
The deeper your knowledge and the more dimensions of that word that you are privy to… the more meaningful an experience you’ll have, God willing.
Just think about your experience when you said "Rabb" throughout your prayer BEFORE we discussed its meanings and deeper realities (and of course, we’ve barely touched the surface)…
Now, whenever you say "Rabb" in prayer, I hope there are many things that come to mind, simultaneously, in that moment.
And that depth, I hope and pray, takes your experience in your daily meetings with Allah to the next level.
At your service,
Farzan
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